California has no single utility office. Electricity, natural gas, water and sewer service come from a mix of investor-owned companies, city departments, special districts and small mutual water companies. Which one serves you depends on your address, sometimes down to the street. This page explains how utilities are organised across California, so you can work out who to call, what to bring and where to turn when a problem is not fixed.

How Utilities Are Organised Across California

Most households deal with several separate providers. Your electric company is often not your water provider, and neither may handle sewer service or trash. Each one has its own account, bill, office and complaint process.

Providers in the state generally fall into four groups:

The directory also lists power-generation firms and electrical businesses, such as Calpeak Power in San Diego and Dye Electric Co in Bakersfield. Some of these are not retail service providers. If you need a new connection or a billing correction, confirm by phone that the office handles customer accounts before you travel there.

Who Regulates Utilities in California

The rules depend on who owns the utility. Knowing this tells you where to appeal when the company does not respond.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates the investor-owned electric, gas and water companies. It reviews their rate requests, sets safety requirements and hears customer complaints. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Co, California American Water Co, Golden State Water Co and Great Oaks Water Company all fall under CPUC oversight. The agency expects you to contact the company first. If that fails, you can file a complaint with the CPUC Consumer Affairs Branch.

Drinking water quality is overseen by the State Water Resources Control Board, which sets and enforces standards for public water systems. Nine regional water quality control boards issue permits for wastewater and other discharges. If you doubt the safety of your tap water, start with your provider's annual water quality report, then contact the State Water Board.

Municipal utilities and special districts are not rate-regulated by the CPUC. Their governing boards set the rates in public meetings. Under Proposition 218, water and sewer rate increases need written notice to property owners and a public hearing where they can protest. If your city-run utility raises your bill, the notice and the meeting agenda are your main points of influence.

Each county also has a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). It reviews boundary changes for special districts, which matters when a new development asks to be annexed into a water district.

Electrical work is licensed separately. The Contractors State License Board licenses electricians, and you can check a license number on its website before hiring someone for panel upgrades or service changes.

Metro and Rural Differences Within California

The pattern of service changes sharply from place to place.

In the Los Angeles area, Los Angeles County has the largest number of listings in the state. Dense development means dozens of retail water agencies sit side by side, with boundaries that do not match city limits. A resident of Compton, Palmdale or Santa Clarita may be served by a different water provider than a neighbor a few blocks away. Listings here include Eastern Electric in Los Angeles, AWP Energy Inc in Palmdale and Green Valley County Water District in Santa Clarita.

The Inland Empire follows a similar pattern with a stronger presence of investor-owned companies. In San Bernardino County, the directory lists Southern California Edison in Victorville, Golden State Water Co in Ontario and the Redlands Water And Sewer Department. In neighboring Riverside County, Southern California Gas Co has an office in Corona.

The Central Valley relies heavily on groundwater, and water is a daily concern. Kern County and its largest city, Bakersfield, have more listings than any other city in the state. Fresno and its surrounding communities have small systems like Easton Estates Water Co. If you live outside a city boundary, expect to deal with a district or a small private system.

In the Bay Area and the North Coast, larger providers such as Pacific Gas and Electric Company in San Francisco and California American Water Co in Santa Rosa serve many customers. In rural foothill and mountain areas, many homes use private wells, septic systems and propane, so no utility office may be involved at all. Your county environmental health department usually permits wells and septic systems instead.

Finding and Using a Utility Office in California

Start with your most recent bill. It names the provider, lists the account number and usually prints the customer service phone number. If you are moving into a new address and have no bill, ask the landlord or the city which agencies serve the property.

Many offices now handle routine business by phone or online. Walk-in counters can be limited to payments or appointments, so call first. The directory phone numbers are a good starting point, such as 415-973-0733 for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company listing on Market Street or 714-765-3300 for City of Anaheim Public Utilities.

For a new account, plan to bring:

Some providers may ask for a deposit, depending on your credit or payment history. Ask what the deposit is and when it is refunded or credited.

Help With Bills and Safety in California

The state's large electric and gas companies offer discounts through the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) program and the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program for households that meet income limits. Customers who depend on powered medical equipment can ask about the Medical Baseline program, which provides extra allowances. The California Department of Community Services and Development funds energy assistance through local agencies.

Water customers have protections too. Under state law known as the Water Shutoff Protection Act, larger urban water systems must follow specific notice and payment-plan rules before disconnecting residential service for nonpayment. Ask your provider for a written copy of its shutoff policy.

Before any digging, such as fence posts, trees or a patio, call 811. Northern and Central California are covered by USA North 811 and Southern California by DigAlert. State law requires you to notify the center at least two working days before you dig. The call is free and prevents damage to buried gas, power and water lines.

Municipal utility departments throughout California provide electricity, water, sewer, and related services to millions of residents and businesses. Utility governance in California is shaped by the state's public utility commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities, while municipally owned systems operate under local authority.

Utilities locations are available in 460 cities across California. They are spread across 57 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of utility offices include Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Sacramento, reflecting their larger populations and service area demands.

California residents should contact their local utility provider directly for account setup, billing questions, and outage reporting. State-level utility assistance programs may also be available through the state's health and human services agency.

Utilities by Counties

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California residents who need help paying utility bills may qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered through the state's community services offices. Contact your local utility provider to inquire about budget billing, shut-off protection, and additional assistance programs available in your area.

Browse Utilities by county across California to find your local utility department's contact information and service office locations.

Using California Utility Listings Effectively

The listings here come from across 57 California counties. They include large investor-owned companies, city departments, water districts and smaller private operators. The Sacramento listing for Del Paso Manor Water District at 4268 Lusk Drive and the Oxnard City Water Service office at 251 South Hayes Avenue show how different these providers can be in size and structure.

Before you visit, check the county page for your area. Sacramento County and San Diego County are two examples where the listings sit alongside regional agencies. Confirm the phone number, ask whether an appointment is required and ask exactly which documents to bring. Office hours, payment options and staffing change often, so a two-minute call avoids a wasted trip.

If a listing turns out to be a contractor or business rather than a service provider, use the contact details to ask who serves your address. A good question to ask any office is: which agency is responsible for service at my street address?

The California Public Utilities Commission regulates investor-owned electric, natural gas and water companies. That includes Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Co, California American Water Co and Golden State Water Co. It reviews rate requests, enforces safety rules and takes consumer complaints. Contact the company first and keep a record of dates and names. If the problem remains unresolved, file a complaint with the CPUC Consumer Affairs Branch. City-owned utilities and water districts are not regulated by the CPUC for rates, so those disputes go to the local governing board.

Check a recent water bill first, since it names the provider. If you do not have one, call your city's utility or public works office and give them your street address. In many California areas, water service does not follow city limits. A home in Apple Valley, for instance, might be served by the Apple Valley Foothill County Water District or by another agency, depending on location. Your county page in this directory can help narrow the search, but always confirm the provider by phone before applying for service or paying a deposit.

Bring a government-issued photo ID, proof that you live at or control the property, and your desired start date. Proof can be a lease, a deed or a closing statement. Some providers also ask for a Social Security number or other identification to check credit, and they may ask for a deposit if your history is limited. Requirements vary between investor-owned companies, city departments and small water companies, so call the office first. Ask whether the application can be done online or by phone and whether a walk-in visit requires an appointment.

Yes. The large investor-owned electric and gas companies offer the California Alternative Rates for Energy program, known as CARE, and the Family Electric Rate Assistance program, known as FERA, for households within set income limits. Customers who rely on medical equipment that needs electricity can apply for Medical Baseline. The California Department of Community Services and Development also funds energy assistance through local community agencies. Ask your provider about enrollment and which documents prove eligibility. Income limits and discount amounts change, so check the current figures with the company before you apply.

Yes. California law requires you to contact the regional notification center at least two working days before you dig. Dial 811 to reach the right center. USA North 811 covers Northern and Central California, and DigAlert covers Southern California. Operators notify the owners of buried gas, electric and water lines, who then mark their locations. The call is free. Digging without notice can damage pipes or cables, put people at risk and leave you responsible for the repair costs. Keep your ticket number and wait for the markings before you start.

Larger urban water systems must follow the Water Shutoff Protection Act before they disconnect residential service. The law requires advance written notice and a chance to set up a payment plan or other arrangement, and it sets protections for certain customers, such as those with serious medical conditions. Smaller systems may be covered by different rules. Ask your provider for its written shutoff policy as soon as you fall behind, and contact them before the due date. If you rent, ask whether the landlord is responsible for the water account.

Contact the city council or district board that governs the utility, since the CPUC does not set rates for these agencies. Under Proposition 218, property owners must receive written notice of proposed water or sewer rate increases and have a public hearing where they can submit a written protest. The notice explains the date, the amounts and how to object. If you rent, speak with your landlord, because the notice goes to the property owner. Attend the hearing or read the posted agenda to see how the board plans to vote.